Could Tim Floyd be headed to Arizona?

by Paragon SC on Apr 1, 2009 4:20 PM PDT in USC Basketball

BREAKING...Just saw on ESPN News is reporting ESPN Radio 620 KTAR's Mark Asher has reported that Floyd will be named Arizona's Coach tomorrow. I'll have more as it becomes available. Going to be a long night.

Laughing Stock Update: And so the plot thickens.

Jon Wilner from the Mercury News has the "Scuttlebut"... (emphasis Wilner)

There was a published report earlier today (East Valley Tribune) that the Cats were set to hire Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel.

Then I heard Oklahoma State’s Travis Ford and UNLV’s Lon Kruger.

Now — and this is third-hand and unconfirmed — I repeat: third hand and unconfirmed — I’m not trying to pass off scuttlebutt as news; I’m passing it off as scuttlebutt — I’m hearing that USC’s Tim Floyd is the leader in the clubhouse to replace Olson and the deal could be done by the end of the day.

Initial reactions, which could be rendered moot if Floyd isn’t the guy:

* He’s a heck of a coach.

* Floyd is/was reportedly a candidate for the Memphis job.

* While Floyd has never been caught violating NCAAs rules, a lot of smoke has billowed from the Trojan program under his watch … from the O.J. Mayo/agent issues to the Daniel Hackett recruitment to the O.J. Mayo/agent issues.

* Arizona is currently under investigation by the NCAA for recruiting violations.

* Good a coach as he is, Floyd is not Rick Pitino or John Calipari or Tom Izzo or Jamie Dixon or Jay Wright or Mark Few — meaning: he’s not the big name Arizona fans are expecting.

* Would he “win the press conference,” in the words of Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood? I’m not sure he would. Didn’t Arizona and USC finish tied for fifth in the conference?

The Arizona search is getting more interesting by the hour.

Wilner is a pretty decent source...but could this be a big April Fools joke for USC Fans?

I am not buying it... but who the hell knows...

Paragon SC Update...this is from Fox Sports

Multiple sources confirmed to FOXSports.com that Floyd was in Tucson to meet with Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood on Wednesday afternoon.

Laughing Stock Update: One more article, this one from the LA Times. Worth the quick read for the context of the (alleged?) hire. Here is the key tidbit:

Arizona asked permission to speak with Floyd on Tuesday. At the team banquet that night, Floyd gave an impassioned speech to players about staying at USC and not jumping to the NBA. He then left to interview at Arizona on Wednesday.

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Consider the dateh

thats all i have to say. If the story is still there tomorrow, maybe ill give it a look.

by frak on Apr 1, 2009 5:38 PM PDT reply actions

I heard about this too

The only thing that stands out the most in this scenario- should either Arizona or Coach Floyd be serious in considering the move is: " * Good a coach as he is, Floyd is not Rick Pitino or John Calipari or Tom Izzo or Jamie Dixon or Jay Wright or Mark Few — meaning: he’s not the big name Arizona fans are expecting."

Would the Wildcats “settle” on Coach Floyd?

Then, the larger question- as it applies to USC is what Zoulou was talking about earlier in the season (and I, personally, find his points very credible and worth asking) “Should USC and its fanbase be happy with late-season runs, getting a NCAA berth, getting bounced early or getting into the Sweet 16’s or Elite 8’s every now and again?” Because, if Coach Floyd can’t deliver a NC, what exactly are we trying to shooting for? (no pun intended)

Don’t get me wrong. I love Coach Floyd and want him to build a winner here at USC. But if he isn’t good enough for the Wildcats, why should he be good enough for us?

My short answer is that- A. I believe Coach Floyd is “on track”. B. I believe Coach Floyd IS building a winning program here, it isn’t gonna happen overnight. In that, I mean to say it will be a 4 – 5 year project. He’s only a few years in so far. C. So long as Coach Floyd continues to build around and obtain recruits that will stay for their full 4 years, I think he’s got a better than good chance of taking USC basketball to the next level of consistently vying for the PAC 10 title outright, PAC 10 Tourney championships, and deep runs into the NCAA’s. D. I find it very difficult to, personally, to give up on the coach. He’s stuck with us and he’s done some amazing things since he’s been here. Has it been a trouble-free ride? No. Has it been an excruciating ride? Yeah, at times. Is he a detriment to what we all want as Trojan fans alike? No way. He’s been a God-send in my eyes.

Bibby he isn’t. And I’m so thankful for that. Not to disparage Coach Bibby, he did some good things while at the basketball helm. He put off the alumni, the media/press, some players, and didn’t make ANY FRIENDS that might have helped him achieve the goals he didn’t quite meet.

Coach Tim Floyd has been the anti-Bibby. And for that, I am more than just thankful.

Here’s hoping the Wildcats find our coach to be “not what they want”. We’ll gladly keep him. Er, at least, I will.

Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"

by BixBeiderbecke on Apr 1, 2009 5:47 PM PDT reply actions

I've been biting my tongue since the Pac 10 tourney.

And I’m going to wait and see before commenting, but still . . .

by Zoulou on Apr 1, 2009 7:05 PM PDT reply actions

Lots of rumors out there

nard to know whats true or why he would go…

guess we will find out soon enough

Conquest Chronicles

by Paragon SC on Apr 1, 2009 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions

I know Zou

I would like to say, “I’ve been wondering what Zoulou’s been up to?”. . . .but I already have that answered in my head a little bit I think. “Biting your (his) tongue” is one of ’em. :- )

by BixBeiderbecke on Apr 1, 2009 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Will he be who I thought he was?

Honestly, I hope not, but this sounds like the 2001 Henry Bibby and UNLV blackmail 2.0. Again, we will see.

by Zoulou on Apr 1, 2009 7:24 PM PDT reply actions

Listening to the report on ESPN

pretyy much says that FLoyd is gone and that Solomon Hill will be going with him.

Conquest Chronicles

by Paragon SC on Apr 1, 2009 7:41 PM PDT reply actions

I have to admit...

I am kind of surprised. It will be interesting to see how Mike Garret handles this situation. I have to think that he needs to either A.) Offer Floyd a big time raise or B.) Get on the phone and offer Jamie Dixon some serious-as-a-heart-attack cash.

by Laughing Stock on Apr 1, 2009 7:48 PM PDT reply actions

From the Pac-10 championship game, I was disappointed that despite the hometown team playing, the stadium was still not packed (even close). I understand that it’s just college basketball, but that was a do-or-die game for USC.

It basically has me pondering the same things about Herb Sendek. Does a lack of a huge fan base for your sport make a job with a TON of support that much more appealing, even if it is in Tucson, Arizona?

Would Herb Sendek take a vacancy at UConn? I would bet my life on it. These guys want success and a jammed house every game. I can’t blame them.

House Of Sparky: An Arizona State Sun Devils blog

by Cory Williams on Apr 1, 2009 7:48 PM PDT reply actions